A court in Kristianstad, Sweden, has ordered the forfeiture of an apartment valued at one million kronor, with the state set to take it over. The apartment is owned by a man without a criminal record, but police say it has clear connections to a criminal gang. The decision follows a major drug investigation last year that led to the conviction of about twenty people.
Police suspect the apartment was financed with money from the criminal network and used by criminals, marking what police in Kristianstad call the first such case in Sweden. The owner claims some funds came from loans from childhood friends, but the court sided with the prosecutor, finding it more likely the money originated from criminal activity. Police hope the forfeiture sends a signal to criminals about the risks of laundering money.